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URL of article: http://www.nebraskahistory.org/publish/publicat/history/full-text/NH1990Alexander.pdf Date: 1/29/2014 Article Summary: This is the story of Hall of Fame major league baseball pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander, who rose to greatness in the world of professional baseball and died poverty-stricken in his hometown of St Paul, Nebraska. His life was marked by professional success and personal failure. Cataloging Information: Names: Tony Lazzeri, William Alexander, Martha Grover Cleveland, Honus Wagner, Tris Speaker, Napoleon Lajoie, George Sisler, Walter Johnson, Eddie Collins, Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, Cy Young, Bill Killefer, Aimee Arrants Alexander, Joe McCarthy, Roger Hornsby, Bill Sherdel, Christy Mathewson, Johnny Hopp, Bob Johnson, Wade Boggs, Ron Hansen, Sam Crawford, Richie Ashburn, Billy Southworth, Les Nunamaker, Bob Gibson, Mel Harder, Clarence Mitchell, Tim Burke, Gregg Olson, Grantland Rice, Pickles Dillhoefer, Mike Pendergast, Ronald Reagan, Doris Day, Hans Lobert, Douglas Fairbanks Sr Place Names: St Paul, Nebraska; Aurora, Nebraska; South Platte, Nebraska; Galesburg, Illinois; St Louis, Missouri; Indianapolis, Indiana; Syracuse, Nebraska; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Cooperstown, New York; Central City, Nebraska; Burwell, Nebraska; Knox College; Omaha, Nebraska; Evansville, Indiana; Long Beach, California Keywords: 342nd Field Artillery; St Paul Phonograph, National Baseball Hall of Fame, St Louis Cardinals; Philadelphia Phillies; Howard County Telephone Company; Illinois-Missouri League; Regal Shoe Company; Syracuse Journal; Philadelphia Athletics; National League; Baker Bowl (Philadelphia); Chicago Cubs; 1926 World Series; The Winning Team (movie); Cy Young Award; House of David (baseball team) Photographs / Images: Grover Cleveland Alexander as a St Louis Cardinal, 1926-1930; Grover Cleveland Alexander in World War I uniform; Thirteen inductees into baseball's Hall of Fame; Alexander as a player- manager with the House of David baseball team from 1931-1936; Inset poem "Alexander the Great" by Walt Mason; Grover Cleveland Alexander pitching to Douglas Fairbanks Sr with Bill Killefer of the Chicago Cubs catching; Aimee Alexander with Ronald Reagan during filming of The Winning Team; Inset "Nebraskans in Major League Baseball including photos of Bob Gibson, Grover C Alexander HIS OWN WORST ENEMY: THE RISE AND FALL OF GROVER CLEVELAND ALEXANDER By Andrea I. Paul The life of Grover Cleveland Alexan­ New York flea circus and appeared in a earning $1.75 a day. His Sundays were der, a Nebraska farm boy who scaled penny arcade, earning pocket money spent playing baseball for the St. Paul the heights of baseball greatness and by answering questions about his glory team. In June he was recruited by the died poverty-stricken and virtually days. Only a few months after his 1939 Central City team, and on June 30 he friendless in his hometown, was induction into baseball's Hall of Fame, recorded his first victory for his new marked by great successes pro­ Alexander summed up his financial team by downing Aurora, 7-2. The local fessionally and miserable personal condition by complaining, "They gave newspaper referred to their new failures. As the third winningest me a tablet up at the Cooperstown Hall pitcher as George Alexander, a mistake pitcher in major league history, the of Fame, but I can't eat any tablet."2 the reporter would not make again, and legend known as "Alexander the Twice married and divorced from the claimed that his pitching "proved to be Great" holds national league records same woman, Grover Cleveland Alex­ a mystery to the South Platte for victories, career shutouts, and com­ ander died alone in a St. Paul, Ne­ warriors."4 During that season with plete games; the rookie record for vic­ braska, rooming house on November 4, Central City, Alexander's pitching tories; and the season record for 1950. remained a mystery to the opposition shui:outs. In one three-year span, he The son of William Alexander, an as he won twenty-one games, including won ninety-four games for the Elba (Nebraska) farmer, and his wife, a no-hitter, while losing only four Philadelphia Phillies. The height of his Martha, Grover Cleveland Alexander contests. success came in 1926 when he pitched was born on February 26,1887, and was From Central City, Alexander went the St. Louis Cardi6als to a world named after the president of the to Burwell, where he pitched during championship, in the process striking United States. Baseball's influence September and early October 1908, out Tony Lazzeri with the bases loaded, was strong in rural areas during the compiling a winning record. Among his in what many consider to be the game's early years of this century, and it's victories were two against the cele­ most famous strikeout. likely that Grover and his twelve brated Green's Nebraska Indians, one In contrast to his baseball career, brothers were involved in the sport of the best semi-pro teams in the Alexander's personal life was marred during their childhood. In reviewing his Midwest.5 by physical and emotional problems. local career, the St. Paul Phonograph Word of Alexander's success Deafened by artillery shells during reported in 1926 that Grover Alexander reached semi-professional teams out­ World War I, he also suffered from played with the Elba team, as well as side Nebraska. In 1909 his professional epilepsy.' It is unclear whether these with other local teams that needed a career began when Alexander signed a afflictions contributed to his alcohol­ good pitcher. In the fall of 1907, he contract with Galesburg of the Illinois­ ism, a problem that reached legendary attracted outside attention when he Missouri League. Alexander's physical proportions. After a twenty-year major pitched a game for Ord at the Valley attributes - over six feet in height with league career, Alexander was removed County Fair, winning 8-0 while striking red hair and freckles - were immed­ from the lineup by the Cardinals after a out thirteen batters. During a game the iately reported by a Galesburg news­ drinking binge and ended his career next day, he held Ord's opponent paperman, who described him as with a barnstorming House of David scoreless for four innings, earning a blonde of the ruddy type ... (with) the build of a team. After his retirement from another victory and a reputation in cen­ switch engine. Manager Jap (Wagner) figures he organized baseball, Alexander joined a 3 can see the big strawberry slinger floating up puz­ tral Nebraska. zles to the opposing batsmen already and is much In 1908 Alexander was working for taken with his looks.6 Andrea I. Paul is assistant state archivist the Howard County Telephone Com­ at the Nebraska State Historical Society. pany, doing field construction work and The Galesburg Boosters' first test 3 Nebraska History - Spring 1990 was an exhibition game against home­ town Knox College, a 6-4 win. Alexan­ der ended the game as a relief pitcher, keeping the collegians "guessing all the time." His legendary pinpoint control was not yet evident as he walked three batters during this brief appearance.7 He was back in form for the season opener against Monmouth, striking out nine men but losing the game 5-4 because of three errors committed by his teammates. After two victories over Pekin" in mid-May-a one-hitter in which Alexander himself got three hits and a shutout in which Alexander struck out sixteen-the Galesburg press nicknamed him "Alexander the Great."x The St. Paul newspapers followed Alexander's success with unabashed glee, although the nickname attached to him in the local press was "Dode." After his first victory over Pekin, the St. Paul Phonograph-Press reported, "It is evident that 'Dode' has won a home in Galesburg. May he continue to strike them out at every game."') There were many highlights in Alex­ ander's first season of organized baseball. In one game, Alexander hit a ball out of the park, over a Regal shoe sign in left field. He received a bonus of ten dollars after the players passed a hat among the fans and presented the collection to Alexander after the game. In addition, he was awarded a pair of Regal shoes. lo In another game, Alex­ ander led the Boosters to a 1-0 eleven inning victory over Pekin, allowing only five hits by the opposition and driving in the winning run himself. I I As his fame grew, Alexander was given still another nickname, "0. U. Alexander" (to be read as "Oh, you Alexander") and was sometimes During World War I Alexander served with the 342nd Artillery Battalion of the Eighty-ninth Infantry. A shrapnel wound to his right ear and partial deafness caused by the roar ofartillery contributed to his later health prob­ lems. Courtesy of National Baseball Library, Cooperstown, New York. 4 Grover Cleveland Alexander Alexander was one ofthe original thirteen inductees into baseball's Hall,of Fame. Here he poses in 1939 with greats ofthe game: Honus Wagner (standing at left), Alexander, Tris Speaker, Napoleon Lajoie, George Sisler, WalterJohnson; Eddie C9llins (sitting at left), Babe Ruth, Connie Mack, and Cy Young.